Friday, Jan 2, 2026 at 1:59 PM

Pre-hypothermic run back home. 🥶

So locally for the first day of the year celebration a group was created for a polar plunge.

This sounded like a fun alternative to sitting in a stream all by myself, so I decided to join, with a twist.

I knew they would likely just jump in and then come straight out.

I wanted to stay and swim for a bit.

And since I knew there were people partying on NYE the night before, I brought my snorkel gear and light to clean up the swimming area.

So after I led a short meditation to increase the fire within, we all ran into the water.

Some going all in, some going up to their chest.

It was awesome to find some more friends of the cold.

After we had all come out of the water, we chatted and gathered around the picnic table.

After a bit of chatting I said Happy New Year to all and took my snorkel gear and went back into the water for a timed 5 minute swim/ cleanup. Similar to what I’d done in my stream just a couple days before.

After my timer went off I came out of the water, did some functional movement exercises, warmed my core temp up some, then went back into the lake.

This time I’d set my alarm again for 5 minutes.

Since it was so cold, I only made it another 3 minutes before needing to come out of the water.

Now it was time to change into dry clothes and make my way back home, about 3/4 miles away.

This was where things got tricky.

With next to no feeling in my toes and fingers, putting on shoes and trying to tie the shoes was comically difficult.

Then the shivers started, indicating that I needed to get my core temp up real soon, before I’m in real trouble.

After getting dressed I pulled my “You Are Enough” hoodie over my head, covered my face and began to run, as I began to notice the mental confusion setting in.

It’s an odd sensation, not feeling my toes while running.

But something even more odd happened, I was running faster and with more lung and leg endurance than I normally experience.

With my body still extremely cold, my face freezing from the windchill, and my toes still feeling absent, I continued to run and walk my way up two hills back home.

As delirious as I was, I still stopped to pick up trash on my journey back to the warm sanctuary of my home.

As soon as I got home it was time to change into the warmest clothes I could quickly find.

Sweatpants and a hoodie were the outfit.

Still feeling like a frozen lump of human-sickle 🥶 I bundled up in my bed with a space heater blowing warm comfortable air into the comforter blanket, slowly thawing off my frozen body.

It took a full 2hrs to finally stop shivering and regain the feeling in my toes and fingers.

Although I’ve had cold experiences like this before, this was one of the most intense.

Next time I’ll stop my cold exposure at the first signs of numbing, instead of pushing as far into my limits.

Also it was nice to know there was a warm oasis awaiting me, reminding me that I have a huge capacity to do difficult things.

Especially when I know there is a place of rest after.